Cherries: Stewart, Purches, Hart (Cummings 82), Howe (Fletcher 75), Broadhurst, Browning (Cooke 8), Cooper, Ainsworth, Foley, Best, Hayter.
Subs: Moss, Cooke, Platt.

Chesterfield: Roche, O'Hare, Picken, Niven, Shaw, Allott, Larkin (Folan 75), Downes, Hazel, Hall, Hurst.
Subs: Jordan, Kavacs, Allison, Bailey.

At: 5,499

The first chance of the new season fell to Colin Larkin of Chesterfield. Paul Shaw broke down the right hand side, but his cross was just ahead of the stretching Larkin and the ball sailed high into the North Stand.

Marcus Browning's game lasted less then eight minutes and the captain was replaced by Stephen Cooke. Broadhurst took the armband and Cooke was immediately involved, worrying Chesterfield with a couple of incisive passes.

Bournemouth's first chance of the match fell to Southampton loanee Leon Best. He had time to weigh up his options twenty yards from goal before deciding to have a crack himself with a chance that rolled wide fo the far post.

In the nineteenth minute the two Cherries loan players linked up superbly on the counter attack. Best set himself away with a great first touch and played a through ball for Ainsworth. His pace took him clear of the defence, but Roche in goal managed to get a touch in the nick of time.

Chesterfield were using the flanks well and a low teasing cross on twenty-right minutes took a ricochet for a corner that could have gone anywhere. Cherries successfully dealt with the corner with no difficulties.

On thirty-five minutes a stray pass allowed Chesterfield a chance to break and a switched ball found Kevan Hurst. He fired in a quick shot, but Purches track him quickly and was able to quell the danger with a brave block.

Steven Foley was given his first chance from a set piece on the forty minute mark. From twenty-five yards his centrally placed free-kick brushed the top of the wall for a corner. Foley again delivered and Best's header was blocked in the six yard box with Roche nowhere.

Cherries finished the half on top and some more quick passing gave Cooke a chance that flew inches over the bar. Ainsworth was being utlised to the full on the right hand side and was almost playing as a third striker from his right midfield position.

Half time: AFC Bournemouth 0-0 Chesterfield

Less then two minutes into the second half Chesterfield took the lead. A build up on the left hand side saw the ball squared to Niven and his low drive was too powerful for Stewart, whose touch couldn't stop the ball finding the back of the net.

Seven minutes later James Hayter enarly equalised. An inventive switch of play brought Ainsworth into the equation and the return cross to Hayter was glanced just wide of Roche's right hand post.

Just after the hour mark Chesterfield made it 2-0. On a swift counter attack Paul Shaw sent Larkin away beyond the defence. Stewart came out to meet the ball outside the area, but failed to get any clear contact and Larkin stroked the ball home into the empty net.

A change of formation saw Cooper move back into the defence with Foley moving inside and the two full-backs playing as wing-backs in a 3-5-2 shape. Ainsworth was moved up front and Hayter playing just behind the two loanees.

Chesterfield understandably started putting men behind the ball and it was Ainsworth looking most likely to break them down although the winger was tiring from the immense effort he was putting in. Cooke had a chance from the edge of the area, but a diving lunge from a defender saw his shot blocked.

Pushing players forward left Chesterfield chances to break and a cross-shot from Hall was tipped past the far post by Stewart.

Warren Cummings' return to action was greeted by an ovation from Number 27 The North Stand, but he was denied imemdiate action when the referee wouldn't allow him to take the throw-in to re-start the game!

Fletcher and Cummings then combined to win a corner from which Fletcher and Hayter then combined to see last season's top scorer shoot over the bar.

Cherries were given a glimmer of hope when the fourth official signalled five minutes of stoppage time to be played, helped surely by a spell of time wasting by Barry Roche.

Any small hope was dashed in the final minute. After an altercation between Hayter and Picken resulted in yellow cards for the pair, Paul Shaw found himself with space in the Cherries area and applied the simplest of finishes.

Final Score: AFC Bournemouth 0-3 Chesterfield